Leading European Bottled Water Company Earns CarbonFree® Certification from NSF International

Written by
Alterra

Jana, Inc. leading the bottled water industry to a more carbon-neutral future

ANN ARBOR, Mich., USA and ZAGREB, Croatia (April 17, 2013) – Leading South Eastern Europe bottled water producer Jana, Inc. (dba Jamnica d.d.) has earned CarbonFree® certification from Carbonfund.org and NSF Sustainability, a division of global public health organization NSF International. CarbonFree® product certification is a credible, transparent way for Jana to provide carbon-neutral bottled water products to its customers in North America.

Carbon footprints, water quality and safety are important topics to consumers. An independent survey conducted on behalf of NSF International revealed that 55 percent of safety-minded consumers* are concerned about their carbon footprint, and 61 percent are concerned about the quality and safety of bottled water products.

Jamnica, as part of Agrokor Company, is the largest manufacturer of natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in Croatia with more than 180 years of tradition. To address the environmental impacts of its products, Jana underwent a detailed life cycle assessment to measure the carbon emissions produced from its bottled water products in North America. Jana then offset its carbon emissions through investment in third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry carbon offset projects provided by Carbonfund.org, a leading nonprofit and developer of the CarbonFree® Product Certification program, the first carbon neutral product label in North America.

In addition to CarbonFree® certification, Jana has held NSF bottled water certification since 2008. This program requires annual product testing and facility audits to ensure ongoing compliance with the strict quality and safety standards of the program.

“The NSF bottled water and CarbonFree® certification labels on Jana’s bottled water products communicate that Jana is committed to both the health and safety of its customers as well as reducing its environmental impact,” said Tom Bruursema, NSF Sustainability General Manager.

"Jana is the first product in the region certified by the Carbonfund.org Foundation, Inc. Thus, we are very proud to be environmentally friendly in keeping with our responsibilities as the biggest producer of water in Croatia," said Ivana Petricevic, Jamnica Quality Director.

“With more companies recognizing the importance and value of offering carbon-neutral products, carbon content labeling is a vital tool for companies to market their commitment to sustainability,” said Eric Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org. “Our CarbonFree®label is widely recognized by companies throughout North America as a preferred mark that assures a comprehensive process was used to achieve carbon neutrality.”

How the CarbonFree® Product Certification Program WorksThe CarbonFree® Product Certification program uses life cycle assessments (LCAs) to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over a product’s entire life cycle. GHG emissions (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) that cannot be reduced or eliminated from the products’ life cycle are offset or ‘neutralized’ with third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry carbon offset projects.

A carbon offset is a verifiable reduction in carbon emissions somewhere in the world other than where the emission is generated. These external reductions offer clean energy transformation (e.g. wind, solar), sequestration (e.g. forestry) and clean technology (e.g. energy efficiency). The projects also offer a range of benefits including conservation, clean water, job creation and innovation. Credits are generated when a project is verified and registered – allowing companies to purchase these credits and offset the emissions produced in the manufacturing and use of their products. These credits are then permanently ‘retired’ on behalf of the product/company.

CarbonFree® certified products earn the use of the CarbonFree® mark along with being listed in the Carbonfund.org online product certification database. The CarbonFree® mark can be found on a variety of products today, including food, beverage, electronics and apparel.

To learn more about the CarbonFree® certification, contact Dennis Gillan at
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or visit Carbonfund.org and NSF International’s website.

About Jamnica: Jamnica, as part of Agrokor Company, is the largest manufacturer of natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in Croatia with more than 180 years of tradition. Due to investments in modernization and new technologies, Jamnica has grown to be one of the most advanced European mineral water bottling plants with annual sales of more than 500 million liters.

Jamnica’s product portfolio is divided into two main groups: mineral water and soft drinks. Jamnica has three production plants in Croatia: one for natural mineral water in Jamnicka Kiselica, another for natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in St. Jana and a third for fruit juices in Jastrebarsko. Jamnica also owns Sarajevski Kiseljak, the largest bottling plant for natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Fonyódi mineral water bottling plant in Hungary.

Jamnica is certified according to quality, environmental and food safety standards (ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004 and HACCP in relation to Codex Alimentarius). Jana is Croatia's most awarded and world renowned bottled water, receiving several international awards and certificates. Jana’s natural mineral water, which is listed in the Directory of Sanitarily Approved Food Establishments for Armed Forces Procurement, has received NSF International bottled water certification to U.S. FDA standards and has a kosher certificate.

About Carbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is a leading nonprofit climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact and hasten our transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbonfund.org supports innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects globally that reduce carbon emissions and help people. Carbonfund.org has worked with over 2,000 corporate and nonprofit partners. More at www.carbonfund.org.

About NSF International: NSF International is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the construction, food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF International has been collaborating with the World Health Organization since 1997 in water quality and safety, food safety and indoor environments.

NSF Sustainability draws upon this expertise in standards development, product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management systems to help companies green their products, operations, systems and supply chains. Product assessments include testing and certification for more sustainable consumer and commercial products. Through its National Center for Sustainability Standards, NSF also develops sustainability standards for products such as carpet, flooring and other commercial building materials.

*Safety-minded consumers are defined as U.S. consumers between the ages of 25-54 that qualify on at least three of the four following criteria: 1) drink bottled or filtered water, 2) take dietary supplements, 3) read product labels, 4) seek information on product safety or certification.